About Registration, Waiting List, Sections

Enrollment in each section is limited, usually to about 30, with a waiting list of 10. Generally, the sections are not completely full after students drop and add courses during the first few days of class. So don't panic. You will almost certainly get into a section, whether by fair means (see below) or foul (see further below). In the meantime, email Dr. Fischer immediately so that we can work out a solution.

If you are on a waiting list for the section you want, you will almost certainly get into it.

If you have registered in one section but would really prefer to be in another, that can almost certainly be arranged, even if the section you want is full right now.

All sections of the course are taught in a uniform way, with essentially identical content, assignments, test, and standards. So our informal way of temporarily solving the problem of full sections and wait lists is this: find any open section of the course, even if it is not the one you really want, and register in that section. (The PSU computer will not let you register in two courses with conflicting meeting schedule, though.) Then, early in the course, attend the section you really want and explain to the instructor what you are doing. Please email Dr. Fischer about it as well. We have to accommodate wait-listed students first, but there is a very good chance that enough students will drop or transfer among sections that we can get you into the one you want. We have absolutely no desire to turn students away, so if we have to we will exceed the enrollment limit by registering people in under-enrolled courses while they attend the one they really want. By winter quarter the sections that were full in fall quarter will almost certainly be smaller and enrolling in them will not be difficult.

If you really really must or want to take first-year German, but can't attend every meeting of the section you want, we can use the same sly tactics to accommodate you. EVERYONE is permitted to attend any and all meetings of any section and to take tests with any section. In fact, we ENCOURAGE you to attend multiple meetings of classes. It's like spending extra time at the fitness center where you've already paid a fixed membership fee - you'll make better and easier progress, but it won't cost you more money. If you do so, please remind your instructors what you are doing, so that your attendance can be credited, whatever meetings you attend.